Well, Chris, that depends upon whether or not anybody's planning to rent them out. True, the typical hipster would prefer to live off Alberta, but I could very easily see a lot of those condos being rented out as "artist space": i.e., ten people in a two-bedroom because they can cover rent and cable between them.

Turn it into a Casino/Red Light District of Bibical proportions. Real Sodom and Gommorah . Bangkok on the Willamette. It's isolated enough from the city and they plan to run Max down there anyway so a line straight from the Airport would keep most of the international sex tourists outside of the public eye. Also you have that tram straight to the hospital to deal with all the STD's and old geezers keeling over from Heart attacks and 4 hour you know whats.

Does Portland/PDC already have a claim or interest, just like any "lender", corresponding to any and all manner of exemptions from taxation or system development charges etc?

Proof: Suppose all the non-equal treatment for tax purposes etc were void based on some trigger event such as any default or bankruptcy by any counterparty ("stakeholder?") to any of the myriad fancy contracts/exemptions. What might the price/"value" be then? Would it magically then become "affordable"?

I'm seriously wondering whether they will find enough SCHMUCKS stupid enough to buy those units - even at the so-called "Fire Sale" prices. Why on earth would anyone want to move into a building that's over 60% vacant and pay for the "priviledge" of doing so?
Anybody want to make a bet that less than half these units sell? The proof will be when the auction company is tight lipped and/or non-commital about how many units were purchased.

I can't wait until there is another 100mph windstorm and a bunch of windows get broken out of those vacant towers. Either that, or bored, unemployed kids driving by on the Ross Island Bridge are going to have that collective light bulb "click on" above their heads, and begin taking pot shots at them with air rifles or .22s.

Personally, I think they'll look great in 5 to 10 years, all abandoned and decrepit, with those broken windows finally gone un-repaired for lack of funds. Then we can solve the homeless problem and let the thousands of bums downtown move in.

We must have tulips the reference to the 16th century tulip craze is just too sweet to let slide. I want something like the island of lost boys in Pinnochio, a true Sodom on the Willamette flood plain. Portlands own Time Square. Casinos, strip joints, whore houses. Pretty much what 4th ave. was back in the 70's but on a bigger scale with more panache. What else are you going to do with it besides turn it in to public housing. At least the Sex Industry would be able to sustain itself economically and that is what it's all about in Portland. Sustainability. It can still be green, just a little slimey. The Jazz Age preceded the Depression lets go down in flames, lets go out with a bang and not a whimper.

"A recent book, “Retrofitting Suburbia,” by Ellen Dunham-Jones and June Williamson, notes that in 1986, the United States had about 15 square feet of retail space per person in shopping centers. That was already a world-leading figure, but by 2003 it had increased by a third, to 20 square feet. The next countries on the list are Canada (13 square feet per person) and Australia (6.5 square feet); the highest figure in Europe is in Sweden, with 3 square feet per person."

I'd like to see all the Gresham-ites move in with their raised-up 4x4s and modified Hondas with coffee-can exhaust pipes. I can just see the windows shaking from the trunk-sized speakers and all the spit stains on the common area rugs. Ha ha ha aha ha ha ha!!!!

I wish I had some cash sitting around. A $199,000 one bedroom, if you get it near the low end of the auction price, will have a mortgage of around $1000/month if you put 20% down. I'm pretty sure you could get close to that in the rental market.

I bet these things sell at that price for investors and the place will fill up with renters from OHSU and PSU.

SoWa was SO predictable, even in the best of times. How would want to live there? It is close to but not in the city. There are very limited ways in and out and almost no amenities save the view. Why not just go to John's landing or even LO if you don't want the city life. Is a 5 or 15 minute drive that different?

I've lived in NW or Pearl or Goose Hollow or Downtown since the mid 80's. I was shocked to see the sales activity but now that we know the vast majority was from speculation, it makes more sense.

M.W. asks if our zoning laws did this.
Well, when the first child molester was our mayor we developed downtown zoning that ruled buildings be shorter the closer to the river you were. You know, public spaces, quality of life.... Chicago's "River-in-a-Concrete Canyon" was not desirable model. But, money talks and Vera/Sam ashcanned the rules because rapacious greed IS a good model.

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 113
At this date last year: 155
Total run in 2016: 155
In 2015: 271
In 2014: 401
In 2013: 257
In 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269